Analysis of Changes in Service Tax and GST through

Finance Bill, 2018 and GST Council 25th Meeting

Dear Professional Colleague,

Finance Bill 2018 has been presented by the honble Finance Minister on 1st February 2018
which has put forward some changes in indirect taxation regime. Also, in recent days, several
modifications have been made under GST after recommendations of 25th GST council
meeting.

The changes recommended by GST council have been notified by the Ministry of Finance
vide issue of Notification No. 3/2018-Central Tax dated 23rd January 2018 with regards to
procedural modifications. Such changes have been made by way of amendments or additions
to CGST Rules, 2017. Further, the suggested revision of rates has been notified vide
Notification No. 1/2018-Central Tax (Rate) to 9/2018- Central Tax (Rate) dated 25th January
2018.

For clear understanding, we have divided the amendments under 2 categories-

I. Applicable on the date of enactment of the Finance Bill, 2018:

A. Changes related to Service Tax;
B. Changes related to Customs affecting IGST;
C. Change in CGST Act.

II. Applicable w.e.f. 25th January 2018:

A. Change in rates/exemption;
B. Changes related to Reverse Charge Mechanism;
C. Changes related to Time of Supply;
D. Procedural modifications.

I. Applicable on the date of enactment of the Finance Bill, 2018:

A. Changes related to Service Tax:

(i) Services provided or agreed to be provided by the Naval Group Insurance Fund by way
of life insurance to personnel of Coast Guard, under Group Insurance Schemes of Central
Government, are proposed to be exempted from service tax for the period commencing from
10th September 2004 and ending with 30th June 2017 both days inclusive).

Refund of any service tax paid can be claimed after filing of refund application within a period
of 6 months from the date on which Finance Bill, 2018 receives assent of the President.

(Clause 103 of Finance Bill, 2018)

(ii) Services provided or agreed to be provided by the Goods and Services Tax Network to
Central Government or State Government or Union Territory administration are proposed to
be exempted form service tax for period commencing from 28th March 2013 and ending on
30th June 2017 (both days inclusive).

Refund of any service tax paid can be claimed after filing of refund application within a period
of 6 months from the date on which Finance Bill, 2018 receives assent of the President.

(Clause 104 of Finance Bill, 2018)

(iii) Consideration paid to the Government in the form of Government’s share of profit
petroleum in respect of services provided or agreed to be provided by Government by way of
grant of license or lease to explore or mine petroleum crude or natural gas or both, is
proposed to be exempted form service tax for period commencing from 1st April 2016 and
ending with 30th June 2017 (both days inclusive).

Refund of any service tax paid can be claimed after filing of refund application within a period
of 6 months from the date on which Finance Bill, 2018 receives assent of the President.

(Clause 105 of Finance Bill, 2018)

B. Changes related to Customs affecting IGST

Exemption has been proposed of integrated tax leviable under section 3(7) of Customs Tariff
Act, 1975 on aircrafts, aircraft engines and other aircraft parts imported under cross-border
lease during the period from 1st July 2017 to 7th July 2017 subject to payment of IGST
leviable under section 5(1) of IGST Act, 2017 on the said supply. Through this proposal the
exemption is being given retrospective effect as Notification No. 50/2017- Customs, amended
by Notification No. 65/2017- Customs had already provided such exemption w.e.f. 8th July
2017.

Refund of any integrated tax which has been paid can be claimed after filing of refund
application within a period of 6 months from the date on which Finance Bill, 2018 receives
assent of the President.

(Clause 99 of Finance Bill, 2018)

C. Change in CGST Act:

In CGST Act, 2017 under section 2(16), for the words Central Board of Excise and Customs,
the words Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has been proposed to be substituted.

(Clause 218 of Finance Bill, 2018)

II. Applicable w.e.f. 25TH JANUARY 2018

A. Change in rates/exemption
(i) GST rates of several services have been reduced vide Notification No. 1/2018- Central
Tax (Rate). The list of services whose rates have been revised are provided below
S. Description of service Old rates New rates
No.
1. Construction Service –
i. EWS houses, constructed under 18% 12%
Affordable Housing in partnership
by state or UT or local authority or
urban development authority,
ii. Houses constructed or acquired
under credit linked subsidy
scheme for EWS/ Lower Income
Group/ Middle Income Group-1/
Middle Income Group-2,
under Housing for All (Urban) Mission/
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).
a building owned by an entity
registered under section 12AA of the Income
Tax Act, 1961, which is used for carrying out
the activities of providing,
centralised cooking or distribution, for mid-
day mealsunder the mid-day meal scheme
sponsored by the Central Government, State
Government, Union territory or local
authorities;
ii. monorail and metro; 18% 12%
ii. low-cost houses up to a carpet area of
60 square metres per house in an
affordable housing project which
has been given infrastructure status
vide notification of Government of
India vide F. No. 13/6/2009-INF,
dated the 30th March,2017;
(iii) Composite supply of works contract 18% 12%
by a sub-contractor to the main
contractor providing works contract service
to Central Government, State Government,
Union territory, a local authority, a
Governmental Authority or a Government
Entity, which attract GST of 12%;
(iv) Composite supply of works contract 18% 5%
by a sub-contractor to the main
contractor providing works contract service
to Central Government, State Government,
Union territory, a local authority, a
 Governmental Authority or a Government
Entity, which attract GST of 5%;
(v) Services by way of house-keeping, 18% 5% without
such as plumbing, carpentering, etc. ITC
supplied through e-commerce operatorand
supplier is not liable for registration
2. Transportation of petroleum crude, petrol, 18% 5% without
high speed diesel or aviation turbine fuel ITC
through pipeline
3. Leasing/ Rental services of Time charter for 18% 5% without
transport of goods ITC of goods
(other than
on ships,
vessels
including
bulk carriers
and tankers)
4. Real Estate Services –
Not Nil
 Services of lease of land by central specifically
government, state government, UT or mentioned
local authority to government authority/
entity;
 Supply of land or undivided share of land
by way of lease or sub-lease where such
supply is part of composite supply of
construction of flats etc.
5. Tour Operator Services 5% without 5% without
ITC ITC (except
ITC of input
service in
same line of
business)
6. Fumigation of agricultural produce in a Not Nil
warehouse specifically
mentioned
7. Service of exploration, mining or drilling of Not 12%
petroleum crude or natural gas or both specifically
mentioned
8. Job work –
 Manufacture of leather goods or footwear 18% 5%
falling under Chapter 42 or 64 of First
Schedule of Customs Tariff Act, 1975
respectively; and
  Tailoring services
9. Services of treatment of effluents by a 18% 12%
common effluent treatment plant
10. Admission to amusement parks 28% 18%

(ii) Notification No. 2/2018- Central Tax (Rate) has been issued to extend benefit of exemption
w.r.t. following services-

1. Educational Institutions –
The following services have been exempted :

 Giving on hire a motor vehicle for transport of student, faculty and

staff to a person providing service of transportation of students, faculty
and staff upto a higher secondary school or equivalent;

 Services provided by an educational institution by way of conduct of

entrance exam against an entrance fees;

 Supply of online educational journal or periodicals to an educational

institute, however the exemption is not applicable to an institution
providing services by way of pre-school education and education upto
higher secondary school or education as a part of an approved vocational
education course.
 Services by an educational institute relating to admission to or conduct
of examination has been exempted for all educational institutions.
2. Composite supply of goods and services in which value of supply of goods
constitute not more than 25% of value of said composite supplyprovided
to Central Government, State Government or Union territory or local
authority or a Governmental authority by way of any activity in relation to
any function entrusted to a Panchayat under article 243G of the
Constitution or in relation to any function entrusted to a Municipality under
article 243W of the Constitution, has been exempted from levy of GST.
3. Service of life insurance by Naval Group Insurance Fund to personnel of
coast guard has been exempted.
4. Service of Re-insurance of specified insurance schemes which have been
exempted under Notification No. 12/2018-Central Tax (Rate) have also
been exempted.
5. Services by an intermediary of financial services located in SEZ with
IFSC status to a customer located outside India for services in currencies
other than INR have been exempted.
6. Legal services to Central Government, State Government, UT, local
authority, Government authority/ entity have been exempted.
 7. Services by way of providing information under RTI Act, 2005 have been
exempted.
8. Transportation of goods by an aircraft/ vessel from customs station of
clearance in India to a place outside India have been exempted till
30thSeptember 2018.
9. Limit of exemption on contribution received from members by RWA
increased from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 7,500/-.
10. The limit of exempted cover for Life insurance services provided under
Life micro-insurance product as approved by IRDA, has been increased
from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs. 2.5 lakh.
11. Time period for exemption of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) has been
increased from 1 year from date of commencement of operations of
regional connectivity scheme airport to 3 years.
12. Exemption limit of consideration for right to admission to events or places
increased from Rs. 250/- to Rs. 500/- for the following events :

 circus, dance, or theatrical performance;

 award function, concert, pageants, any sporting events;
 planetarium (here planetarium has been added vide Notification No.
2/2018-Central Tax (Rate) itself)

(iii) In addition to the aforementioned services, several changes have been introduced in GST
rates of goods as well. Said changes have been notified vide Notification No. 5/2018-Central
Tax (Rate) to 9/2018- Central Tax (Rate) dated 25th January 2018. The revision of rate which
is most note-worthy is related to old and used vehicles which has been notified vide
Notification No. 8/2018-Central Tax (Rate). It has been provided in the said notification that
the value on which tax is to be charged shall be the margin of supplier on supply of such
goods. The new rates have been provided below-

S.No. Description New GST

rates
1. Old and used petrol, LPG, CNG driven 18%
motor vehicles of engine capacity 1200
cc or more and length 4000 mm or more.
2. Old and used diesel driven motor vehicles 18%
of engine capacity 1500 cc or more and
length 4000 mm.
3. Old and used motor vehicles of engine 18%
capacity exceeding 1500 cc popularly
called SUVs including utility vehicles.
4. All motor vehicles other than mentioned 12%
above.

The notification also highlights the following points-

 In case of registered person who has claimed depreciation on said goods, margin of the
supplier shall be (Consideration received minus Depreciated value of goods on date of
supply), and where the margin is negative, it shall be ignored;
 In any other case margin shall be (Selling Price minus Purchase Price), and where the
margin is negative, it shall be ignored;
 This notification shall not be applicable where the supplier of such goods has availed ITC
under CGST Act, 2017 or CENVAT credit under CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 or ITC of
VAT or any other tax paid on such goods.

B. Changes related to Reverse Charge Mechanism:

Vide Notification No. 3/2018- Central Tax (Rate) services by Central Government, State
Government, UT or local authority by way of renting of immovable property to a registered
person has been brought into the ambit of Reverse Charge. Therefore, w.e.f. 25th January
2018, a registered person shall be liable to pay GST on such service.

C. Changes related to Time of Supply :

Vide Notification No. 4/2018-Central Tax (Rate) the specific case of Transfer of
Development Rights (TDR) has been handled. It is specified that in case of supply of services
by transferor of development rights who received consideration in form of construction service
of complex etc. and the developer who supplies construction service against consideration in
form of TDR, the liability to pay GST shall arise for both parties at the time when the said
developer transfers possession or the right in the constructed complex, building or civil
structure, to the person supplying development rights.

D. Procedural modifications :

The following procedural amendments have been notified vide Notification No. 3/2018-
Central Tax, dated 23rd January 2018-

S. No. Description Amendment/Addition

1. Composition Scheme  Time limit for filing of FORM GST
ITC-03 has been increased from 90
days to 180 days from the day when
person opting for composition scheme
commenced payment of tax under the
scheme;
 For a manufacturer, other than notified,
rate of tax shall be 1% of turnover;
 For restaurants, the rate of tax shall be
5% of turnover;
 For other suppliers, the rate of tax shall
be 1% of turnover of taxable supplies of
goods.
2. Cancellation of registration  The restriction to not apply for
cancellation of voluntary registration
 before expiry of 1 year from effective
date of registration has been removed;
 The last date for filing of FORM GST
REG- 29 for cancellation of registration
obtained by a person who was
registered under erstwhile act, but was
not liable to be registered under GST,
has been extended from 31st December
2017 to 31st March 2018.
3. Value of supply in case of  Value of supply of lottery run by state
lottery, betting, gambling government: 100/112 of face value of
and horse racing (Newly ticket or price as notified in official
added) gazette, whichever is higher;
 Value of supply of lottery authorized by
state government: 100/128 of face value
of ticket or price as notified in official
gazette, whichever is higher;
 Value of supply of chance of win
in betting, gambling or horse race:
100% of face value of bet or amount
paid into the totalisator.
4. Exclusions from meaning In addition to previous exclusions, the
of aggregate value of following have shall also be excluded
exempt supplies for the when computing exempt supplies for the
purpose of reversal of ITC purpose of reversal of ITC:
 Value of service by way of accepting
deposits, extending loans or advances,
where the consideration is represented
by way of interest or discount (not
applicable on banking company,
financial institution, NBFC, engaged in
supply of services as mentioned above);
 Value of supply of services by way of
transportation of goods by a vessel from
the customs station of clearance in India
to a place outside India.
5. Transfer of credit from a It has been notified that a registered
registered person to an person having same PAN and state code
Input Service Distributor as an ISD may transfer the credit of
(ISD) (Newly added) common services to ISD.
6. Tax invoice or bill of The person-in-charge of a conveyance
supply to accompany shall carry a copy of tax invoice or bill of
transport of goods (Newly supply in a case where such person is not
added) required to carry an e-way bill.
7. Extension of benefit of The benefit of refund of ITC availed in
refund on ITC availed for respect of inputs received for export of
export of goods goods and ITC in respect of other inputs
and input services to the extent used in
making such export of goods has been
extended to supplies received on which
supplier has availed benefit of
Notification no. 78/2017-Customs and
79/2017-Customs. Earlier, refund of ITC
on supplies received from the supplier
claiming benefit of only Notification no.
40/2017-Central Tax (Rate) and 41/2017-
Integrated Tax (Rate) were allowed.
8. Amendment regarding In regards to services, it has now been
application for refund of provided that application for refund of
IGST paid on services IGST paid on services exported shall be
exported filed in FORM GST RFD-01. Earlier,
there was no specific mention of services
under the rules.
9. Extension of restriction on A restriction has been put into place for
refund of IGST paid on any exporter of goods or services claiming
export of goods or services refund of IGST paid on such exports that
such exporter should not have received
supplies on which the supplier has availed
the benefit of Notification no. 48/2017-
Central Tax, 40/2017-Central Tax (Rate)
and 41/2017-Integrated Tax (Rate). Now
Notification No. 78/2017-Customs and
79/2017-Customs have also been added to
the list of such notifications. Therefore, if
an exporter of goods or services has
received supplies on which supplier has
availed benefit of the aforementioned
notifications, then such exporter shall not
be allowed refund of IGST paid on such
exports.
10. Substitution of Rule 138, The previous rule has been substituted
i.e. information to be with updated rule after recommendations
furnished prior to of GST council. FORM GST EWB-01
commencement of and FORM GST EWB-02 have also been
movement of goods and substituted with new forms.
generation of e-way bill
11. FORM GST RFD-01A It has been provided in the notification
that Statement-2, Statement-3 and
 Statement-4 shall be inserted under
FORM GST RFD-01A. Such statements
are same as those provided in FORM GST
RFD-01.

Hope the information will assist you in your Professional endeavors.